Need identification

[AmeliaCharles]

Hi all!
I am new to the forum and hoping someone could identify these 2 tortoises we spotted walking across the lawn at a game lodge in KZN. I thought Leopard but the hinge behind is throwing me off and now I am not sure what these chaps/ladies species are, maybe one of the hinged species ? Any help would be greatly appreciated, trying to learn as much as possible.

 

[wellington]

@TeamZissou
@Kapidolo Farms
@Markw84

 

[Markw84]

It is definitely a Hinge-back Tortoise. Kinixys From the location it would seem to be Kinixys natalensis know as the Natal Hinge-back also called the KwaZulu-Natal Hinge-back. However, from the pictures it looks more like the Southeastern Hinge-back Kinixys zombensis zombensis whose range is a bit north, but does just touch that area in its southernmost part of the range.

 

[SuzanneZ]

It is definitely a Hinge-back Tortoise. Kinixys From the location it would seem to be Kinixys natalensis know as the Natal Hinge-back also called the KwaZulu-Natal Hinge-back. However, from the pictures it looks more like the Southeastern Hinge-back Kinixys zombensis zombensis whose range is a bit north, but does just touch that area in its southernmost part of the range.

What is the hinge for?

 

[AmeliaCharles]

It is definitely a Hinge-back Tortoise. Kinixys From the location it would seem to be Kinixys natalensis know as the Natal Hinge-back also called the KwaZulu-Natal Hinge-back. However, from the pictures it looks more like the Southeastern Hinge-back Kinixys zombensis zombensis whose range is a bit north, but does just touch that area in its southernmost part of the range.

Thank you so much for the information. Great to get clarification and to learn more about the various species.
Again many thanks for sharing your knowledge

 

[zovick]

What is the hinge for?

The hinges (one on each side of the carapace just forward of the rear leg hole) are there to allow the tortoise to pull the rear portion of the carapace down to protect the rear legs and tail area from predators.

These hingebacks are somewhat similar to our Box Turtles, but only the rear portion of the carapace is movable, whereas in Box Turtles, there is a single hinge which goes all the way across the plastron and allows both the front and rear portions of the plastron to close tightly against the carapace to protect all four legs plus the head and tail areas. The seal is very tight, especially in wild Box Turtles. In many cases a piece of paper cannot even be inserted between the plastron and carapace when a wild Box Turtle is closed up.

 

[SuzanneZ]

The hinges (one on each side of the carapace just forward of the rear leg hole) are there to allow the tortoise to pull the rear portion of the carapace down to protect the rear legs and tail area from predators.

These hingebacks are somewhat similar to our Box Turtles, but only the rear portion of the carapace is movable, whereas in Box Turtles, there is a single hinge which goes all the way across the plastron and allows both the front and rear portions of the plastron to close tightly against the carapace to protect all four legs plus the head and tail areas. The seal is very tight, especially in wild Box Turtles. In many cases a piece of paper cannot even be inserted between the plastron and carapace when a wild Box Turtle is closed up.

Thank you!

 

[SuzanneZ]

The hinges (one on each side of the carapace just forward of the rear leg hole) are there to allow the tortoise to pull the rear portion of the carapace down to protect the rear legs and tail area from predators.

These hingebacks are somewhat similar to our Box Turtles, but only the rear portion of the carapace is movable, whereas in Box Turtles, there is a single hinge which goes all the way across the plastron and allows both the front and rear portions of the plastron to close tightly against the carapace to protect all four legs plus the head and tail areas. The seal is very tight, especially in wild Box Turtles. In many cases a piece of paper cannot even be inserted between the plastron and carapace when a wild Box Turtle is closed up.

Thank you. Interesting as always.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

It's K. z. zombensis. Hinges are for closing up.

 

[Jacqui]

Nice to see those!